Shopping in Spanish: 50+ essential words and phrases

Money cannot get everything in Spain. It is important to know the right words and phrases to get you to the right shops and prices. Your goal must be to shop like locals. This guide will explore different vocabulary and phrases related to shopping in Spanish.

Common words and phrases for shopping in Spanish

1.   Going to shopping

English	Spanish
entrance	entrada
exit	salida
business hours	horario de atención
open	abierto
closed	cerrado

When you enter the store, it is essential to be clear with the push/pull, so you don’t end up forcing the door in the wrong direction.

English	Spanish
push	empuje
pull	jale

Practice is crucial to become fluent in Spanish. Always try to use new words in your conversations. That is how you will develop the right pronunciation as well.

2.   The shops

English	Spanish
storefront	local
shop/store	tienda
little shop (selling a variety of little things)	tiendita
boutique	boutique
storehouse, large shopping depot	grandes almacenes
market	mercado
supermarket	supermercado
hardware store	ferretería
mall	centro comercial
shopping center	centro de compras
bakery (bread)	panadería
fish stand	pescadería
hair salon	peluquería
pharmacy	farmacia
jewelry store	joyería
toy store	juguetería
clothing store	tienda de ropa
sports store	tienda de deportes
music store	tienda de música
shore store	zapatería

There are several Spanish dictionary apps that can help you understand a conversation in Spanish. These apps are user-friendly. You can download them on your smartphone and use them when required.

3.   Where to buy

If you only know what you want but don’t know where to find it, consider the following:

• ¿Conoce un lugar donde realizan ____? (Do you know a place where they make/do/perform_____?)
• ¿Conoce un lugar donde venden _____? (Do you know where they sell ______?)

Now, if you want to incorporate some local perspectives into your decision-making, strike up a conversation with someone and ask:

• ¿Conoce algún_____ por aquí cerca? (Do you know of a ____ around here?

4.   Some little things

You will want to be able to say a variety of things. The table below will help you enrich your vocabulary related to shopping goods in Spanish.

English	Spanish
Fair Trade	Comercio Justo
organic	orgánico
all natural	todo natural
handmade	hecho/a a mano
carved	tallado/a
sewn	cosido/a
knitted	tejido/a
porcelain	porcelana

5.   How to ask

For Spanish learners, asking for things can be difficult. You can always be cautious when dealing with older people and use polite grammar (third person) and phrases. Consider using the following polite phrases when interacting with vendors:

• I would like one of those, please — Quisiera uno de esos, por favor.
• Thank you very much, sir/ma’am — Muchas gracias, señor(a)
• Can you pass me that, please? — ¿Me pasas eso, por favor?
• Give me one, please — Dame uno, por favor
•  I want this/that — Quiero este(a)/Quiero ese(a)
• I don’t like this one so much — Este(a) no me gusta tanto
• I like/love this one! — ¡Me encanta este(a)!
•  I like those over there — Me gustan aquellos(as) de allá
•  We ran out of that — Se acabó
• We don’t have that anymore— Ya no tenemos

6. Quality

Here are some words you will need to talk about the quality of an item:

English	Spanish
cheap	barato
pretty	bonito
affordable	económico
elegant	elegante
ugly	feo
beautiful	hermoso
luxury	lujoso

7.   Sizes

• What’s your shirt size? — ¿Cuál es la talla de su camisa?
• What pants size do you wear? — ¿Qué talla de pantalón lleva usted?
• What shoe size do you wear? — ¿Qué número/talla de zapatos lleva usted?

While we are on the subject of sizes, make sure to convert your measurements into European sizes before you go shopping, or you will have to do some trial and error to figure out what fits. Because clothes and shoes are cut differently in different parts of the world, you’ll probably end up trying on a lot of things anyway.

Shoes in Latin America are frequently smaller and narrower, and trousers are frequently cut for shorter legs.

• Small/medium/large size — talla (pequeña/mediana/grande)
•  It fits me / suits me well — me queda bien
•  It doesn’t fit me / suit me well — no me queda (bien)
• It’s too big on me — me queda muy grande
•  It’s too tight here — me aprieta aquí
• Can I try it on? — ¿Puedo probármelo/a?

8.   Talking about prices

• How much is this? — ¿Cuánto cuesta/vale?
• How much are you asking for this? — ¿A cuánto está?
• What’s the lowest price you can give me? — ¿Cuál es el precio más bajo que me puedes dar?

Making a purchase in small shops and markets can frequently become a disaster. Unless the location is well-equipped for many shoppers or tourists, chances are that no one will have change.

Once you have agreed on a fair price and are ready to pay, you can ask the shopkeeper, “¿Me puede cambiar un billete de 20?” (Can you give me a change for a 20?) If you get a sigh or an exasperated head shake, then you know you’re about to go on a journey to acquire change.

Why do you need to know shopping vocabulary in Spanish?

You will stay oriented. Knowing this vocabulary helps you locate things. You can ask locals for recommendations on where to buy certain high-quality items for a low price, and you won’t get lost along the way.

Markets are awesome. Why go abroad if you’re not going to explore the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the local markets?

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Frequently asked questions

What is the translation of ‘How long will it take for my order to arrive’?

¿Cuánto tiempo tardará en llegar mi pedido?

How do I say ‘Can I make returns’?

¿Puedo realizar devoluciones?

How do I say ‘How can I contact customer service’?

¿Cómo puedo contactar al servicio al cliente?

Conclusion

In this guide, we have explored essential words and phrases related to shopping in Spanish. Make flashcards and learn these words and phrases. Additionally, engage in Spanish-speaking practice to gain fluency.

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